Lesson 14 How Do We Deal with the Drug Problem?

Study Focus 1. To know about the history, present state and harm of drugs. 2. To understand the arguments about legalization of drugs and form your own opinions. 3. To study and appreciate satire and irony.

Part One Pre-reading Tasks Background Information Introduction to the authors

Definition of Drug A drug, broadly speaking, is any chemical substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There are different meanings in medicine, government regulations, and colloquial usage. E.g. drugstore, a drug on the market

Definition of Drug Drug is an illegal substance that people smoke, swallow, inject etc. to make them feel happy or excited. E.g. cocaine, heroin, marijuana, opium etc.

Cocaine 古柯碱

Heroin 海洛因

Marijuana 大麻

Opium 鸦片

Poppy 罂粟

Ice / Meth 冰毒 / 甲安

Dancing Outreach /Ecstasy 摇头丸

The History of Drugs 3500 B.C. Earliest historical record of the production of alcohol B.C. Earliest historical evidence of the eating of poppy seeds in Switzerland Opium is widely used in China and the far East.

1493 The use of tobacco is introduced into Europe by Columbus and his crew returning from America In Luxembourg, Germany, the penalty for smoking (tobacco) is death Napoleon's army, returning from Egypt, introduces marijuana into France The first Opium War. The British force upon China the trade in opium, a trade the Chinese had declared illegal.

1856 The Second Opium War. The British, with help from the French, extend their powers to distribute opium in China Sigmund Freud treats his depression with cocaine The composition of Coca-Cola is changed, caffeine replacing the cocaine it contained until this time The use of alcohol is prohibited in the United States.

1924 The manufacture of heroin is prohibited in the United States It is estimated that in Germany one out of every hundred physicians is a morphine addict According to United Nations estimates, there are approximately 200 million marijuana users in the world, the major places being India, Egypt, North Africa, Mexico, and the United States.

pound of opium, 3000 pounds of heroin, and various opium-smoking devices are publicly burned in Canton China. Thirty-seven opium addicts are executed in the southwest of China Four-fifths of the French people questioned about wine assert that wine is "good for one's health," and one quarter hold that it is "indispensable." 1971 President Nixon declares that "America's Public Enemy No. 1 is drug abuse."

The Statistics of Drug Use By the end of 2003, there were over 740,000 drug addicts in China. 85% of them were under 35 years old. In the U.S, one third of young people under 25 years old have taken drugs. In Italy, 70% of the drug addicts are between years old.

Why do young people tend to take drugs? How can drugs jeopardize people? How can we solve the drug problem?

Introduction to the Authors Passage One: Drugs Gore Vidal (1925--): Prolific American novelist, playwright and essayist.

Passage Two: The Trouble with Legalizing Drugs Clarence Page: Pulitzer Prize winner and columnist. He addresses, with passion and style, the social, economic and political issues such as crime, education, housing, and hunger.

Passage Three: Legalize? No. Deglamorize Charles Krauthammer: Senior editor and columnist; studied political theory at Oxford, trained as a neurologist and psychiatrist, returned to political analysis.

Part Two While-reading Tasks Preview Questions for Each Passage Language Study for Each Passage Idiomatic Expressions

Passage One Preview Questions 1. What does Vidal suggest to solve the drug problem? What would happen if his solution materialized? What is his rationale? 2. What does he propose to do for those who simply can’t kick the drug and are obviously killing themselves? 3. Why does he mention Prohibition in the history of the US? What point is he trying to make by making this analogy?

Passage One Language Study addiction (n.) E.g. drug addiction; the addiction to alcohol addict (n.) E.g. treatment centers for addicts Many heroin addicts are prone to contract AIDS.

addicted (adj.) (not before n.) to be addicted to sth. He is seriously addicted to the tranquillizers. 孩子们容易沉迷于电脑游戏。 Kids tend to be addicted to computer games. addictive (adj.) I find skiing quite addictive.

to label something with something: to fix a label on something or write information on something 秘书把每份文件都标上目录。 The secretary labeled each file with its contents. Distinguish drug user/ taker from drug addict

Marijuana: the most widely used drug among young people. It is estimated that more than one out of ten of the population in the US have tried it. Many of the disputes about drug use center on this substance. Some people think that it is very dangerous while others consider it less harmful than alcohol and that people ought to be allowed to use it if they wish.

Speed: a form of amphetamine, a stimulant used by some doctors to help patients to lose weight, because it depresses the appetite. Amphetamines are addictive and gradually users find they must have regular and ever-larger doses.

for the record: frankly speaking; with my due respect “For the record,” said the Senator, “I think our effort to reduce crime is a failure.” a whiff of: (mainly literary) a small amount of At the first whiff of trouble, he was off like a shot.

along with: in addition to exhortation (n.) persuasion to exhort somebody to do sth. the warning rumble: the annoying voices opposing legalizing drugs The thunder rumbled in the distance.

to end up (doing) sth.: to come to be in a particular situation or state, esp. when you didn’t plan it 我们本打算出去散步，结果却留在家里看碟子。 We were going to take a walk outside, but ended up watching videos at home. Zombies: (infml) someone who doesn’t seem to know or care about what is happening around them and moves very slowly, esp. because they are very upset or tired

too bad: (spoken) used for saying that you are sorry or sympathetic about sth. mainliner: (infml) a person who injects illegal drugs into his/her blood to forbid sb. sth. to forbid sb. from doing sth. forbid, forbade, forbidden

“It is a lucky thing for the American moralist …last Tuesday.” Most Americans have a bad memory and don’t remember anything that happened in the past. This is a lucky thing for those people who advocate forbidding drugs (for if they remembered what Prohibition in the 1920s resulted in, they would see that prohibition of drugs will not be feasible, either). Note the writer’s sarcastic tone. He uses the word “moralist” in a derogatory way.

Prohibition: the period from 1919 to 1933 in the US when the production and sale of alcoholic drinks was forbidden by law

Demon Rum: Rum is an alcoholic drink made from sugar in the West Indies originally. It was condemned even as early as the puritans first settled on the American continent. They called it “Demon Rum” because they believed that it was invented by the Devil to lure the people away from God’s teachings.

to stamp out: to end sth. bad or unpleasant by taking strong and determined action 我们的目标是在有生之年消除贫困。 We aim to stamp out poverty in our lifetimes. crime wave: a sudden increase in the crime rate

contempt (n.) contempt for sb/sth; with contempt; to hold sb in contempt 他鄙视别人的态度十分明显。 His contempt for other people is quite obvious. 从刚来时起他就一直受轻视。 He has been treated with contempt ever since he arrived.

attempt (n.) to make an attempt; the attempt at/ to do sth. 他为创世界记录做出了最后一次努力。 He made one last attempt at the world record. In an attempt to erase the tension I suggested that we break off for lunch. (v.) to attempt to do sth.; to attempt sth.

prohibition (n.) a prohibition on/ against/ of sth. 校园内禁止吸烟要严格执行。 The prohibition against smoking on campus is strictly enforced. to prohibit sth.; to prohibit sb. from doing sth. to get sb. hooked on sth: to make sb. addicted to sth to be hooked on sth.

vested interest: (law) an interest in which there is a fixed right to present or future enjoyment and that can be conveyed to another to have a vested interest in (doing) sth ： to have a special reason for wanting sth. to happen in a particular way, because you will benefit from this

《寂静的春天》受到化工业的众多批评，因 为化工业在 DDT 和其它杀虫剂中获得了既得 利益。 Silent Spring received great criticism from the chemical industry because the latter had a vested interest in DDT and other pesticides.

fix (n.) (fml) the amount of a drug that sb. feels they need to take regularly “The American people are as devoted to…” The American people work hard to become rich, to realize the American dream. They work equally hard in their war against drugs because they firmly believe that drug taking is a sin and that all sins should be punished.

Passage Two Preview Questions Is Gore Vidal alone in holding the opinion of legalizing drugs? Where does the Clarence Page stand facing the drug problem? Does he propose any feasible solution? How different is his opinion from those of others?

Passage Two Language Study deliciously convenient reasoning: delightful, easy way of thinking to pump sth. into sth. : to provide a large amount of things for sth. the forbidden-fruit attraction

to advocate (doing) sth. advocate advocator advocacy advocation to lift: to officially end a rule or law that stops sb. from doing sth. to lift a ban/prohibition/ blockade/ curfew/ restriction/ sanction

base (n./v.) to base A on B, A is based on B basic (adj.) basics (n.) basis (n.) on the basis of to bail out sth. with sth.: to empty water from sth. by lifting it out with a container 用这么少的贷款来拯救公司免于破产简直就是 杯水车薪，力不从心。 Saving the company from bankruptcy with this small loan would be like trying to bail out a boat with a teaspoon.

Notice the different meanings of “to bail out” Rich people can get bailed out easily if they are arrested or detained. From now on the companies will sink or swim on their own. They can no longer count on the government to bail them out. His appeal for release on bail is turned down.

to be alone in (doing) sth: (usually in negatives or questions) to be the only person that does sth. 德国不是唯一反对此联合国决议的国家。 Germany was not alone in opposing this UN resolution.

sentiment n. (fml) opinion or feeling; feelings of pity, love and sadness It is my sentiment that we should vote against the resolution. There’s no place for sentiment in business! sentimental (adj.) to declare/ wage a war on sth./sb. 警方正在对该市的毒贩子宣战。 The police are waging/ declaring a war on drug pushers in the city.

prescription n. (c) suggestion, plan to prescribe some patient some medicine to prescribe some medicine for some disease gaping hole = deep, wide-open hole; a lot of important details are missing C.f. gapping

rebuttal: (fml) a refusal to accept that something is true, as in a debate to direct sth. to sb.: (fml) to turn (a comment, complaint, etc.) to a particular place or person The correspondent directed his question to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, not to the spokesman.

to miss the boat: to fail to grasp the essence “Drugs are a symptom of deeper ills…” Widespread use of drugs is a sign of more serious social problems for some groups of the population, especially for the poor. drug boot camp: compulsory treatment center

traffic n. (fml) the secret buying and selling of illegal goods E.g. traffic in firearms (v.) trafficked, trafficking 路易斯倒卖毒品，被判有罪。 Lewis was found guilty of trafficking in drugs. C.f. mimic, mimicking

“but as long as demand remains, the traffic will find ways to get through.” … but as long as there are people who want drugs, pushers will manage to get them to the users, in spite of more punishments. “And demand will remain…” The need (for drugs) will not vanish unless the social problems that provide a breeding- ground for drug abuse are resolved.

multifaceted: (adj.) containing many different aspects, features, or qualities a magic bullet: a quick and easy solution to a very difficult problem “but he is wrong to limit his targets.” But he should’t have limited his targets just to drug sale and abuse, without looking deeper into many related social problems.

proverbial (adj.) well-known like a proverb illusory (adj.) lacking reality (n.) illusion disillusion (n. /v.) criminalization: harsher measures against drug sale and abuse, punishing more people involved

Passage Three Preview Questions What does the author propose to solve the drug problem? How does he argue about the savings brought by drug legalization? What is his view about the analogy between the prohibition of drugs and of alcohol?

Passage Three Language Study to boot (prep. phrase): (spoken) used for emphasizing the last point in a list of comments or criticisms 他不诚实，而且胆小。 He is dishonest and coward to boot.

minimize (v.) to make sth. seem much less important than it really is 我们希望你不要低估对手的实力。 We hope you won’t minimize the abilities of your competitors. catastrophic (adj.) disastrous catastrophe (n.) outweigh (v.) to be more important, useful, or valuable than sth. else

to be here to stay/ have come to stay: something is generally accepted and is part of all our lives intoxicant (n.) intoxication to be intoxicated by/ with sth.

“With cocaine and heroin readily available,…” Once cocaine and heroin are easy to get, the number of deaths in traffic accidents addicts would cause would be greater than all drug-related deaths now.

“First, legalization gives a social sanction.” People generally regard anything legal as a kind of public approval. sanction: (fml) official permission, approval The book was translated without the sanction of the author. sanctions (pl.) U.S. imposed sanctions against Cuba.

“Third, it makes them available…” Third, when drugs are legal, they can be got at a price that is equal to or even lower than when they are sold illegally. That is what legalization based on. If drugs are still sold at a high price, what is the point of making them legal? undercut (v.) to sell sth. at a lower price than at a price specified rationale (n.) the logical basis

Humphrey Bogart (Bogie)

glamorous (adj.) attractive glamour (n.) Young actors are often dazzled by the glamour of Hollywood. glamorize (vt.) Hollywood movies tend to glamorize courageous soldiers in war. deglamorize (vt.) deglamorization

dangle (vi./vt.) to hang or swing loosely, or make sth do this Huge earrings dangled from her ears. He dangled the bone in front of the puppy.

“A relentless government campaign, … has thoroughly deglamorized cigarettes.” Finally, Hollywood stars and the rest of the entertainment business became aware of the harmful effects of tobacco smoking and their part in glamorizing it. They join in this campaign and stop creating glamorous images of a tough guy with a cigarette between his lips.

“Nancy Reagan’s Just Say No to drugs campaign…” When Nancy Reagan started a campaign calling upon people to reject drugs, she was ridiculed. It didn’t matter how much or little achieved; what counted was that it showed that persuasion was the only approach to the drug problem that did not involve repression. non-repressive way: the way of persuasion, not by force or violence

to crack down on sb/sth: to get tough with 校方已决定严厉处置剽窃抄袭行为。 The university authority has decided to crack down on plagiarism.

to be enough… to go around: to be enough so that everyone has one or some 你去隔壁拿几张椅子好吗 ? 这里的椅子不够 了。 Would you go to the next door and get a few chairs? There aren’t enough (chairs) here to go around.

premium: (n.) an amount of money paid in addition to a regular price to mount a campaign /attack/ exhibition/ expedition

“If you want a civilized approach…” If you want to adopt an appropriate and humane way, launch as extensive a propaganda campaign against drugs as the one that was aimed at smoking. to send in the Marines: (figurative) to do everything possible

“And if you are just a politician looking for reelection,…” And if you are a politician seeking reelection and wishing to project a favorable image, go all out and wave your hands before the camera so that your picture will be carried in newspapers and TV.

Idiomatic Expressions drug taker / user drug addicts drug pusher/ dealer drug addiction drug abuse drug traffic to label … with … to kick a habit

for the record to disprove a theory a whiff of (opium) along with to interfere with to end up doing sth. in advance a divine mission to stamp out the contempt for sb./sth.

to get sb. addicted to sth. to get sb. hooked on sth. to have a vested interest in doing sth. to wither away to be devoted to sb./sth. to pump sth. into… treatment centers/ boot camps to advocate doing; to call for sth. to lift the prohibition/ ban against sth.

to bail out the ocean with a teaspoon to declare/ wage a war against sth. to direct an open letter to sb. to repeal the law to miss the boat to define sth. as sth. to boot (prep. phrase) to give a social sanction to impose sanctions against sb. to undercut the price

to dangle from sth. to project an image of sth. to issue a report to crack down on sb. to mount a propaganda campaign against drugs forbidden fruit the Surgeon General to minimize / underestimate the effect to confiscate property

Part III After-reading Discussion Try to summarize the solutions to the drug problem given by the three authors. Solution I: legalization Solution II: neither legalization nor criminalization Solution III: deglamorization What do you think of them?

Translation (P442) 1. He didn’t know that his daughter had become a drug addict. 2. Kids tend to become addicted to video/ computer games. (get hooked on) 3. He is addicted to smoking. He is really a living chimney. 4. Cocaine is addictive. So is heroin. (Cocaine and heroin alike are addictive.)

5. Many economists now advocate shifting our emphasis to the service industry. 6. Scientists have been advocating returning the reclaimed land to the rivers, lakes, marshes and meadows. 7. At the meeting both the advocates (proponents) and opponents presented very strong arguments.

8. Their government has decided to ban/ prohibit the export of rare species of birds and animals. 9. It’s hard nowadays to make young people believe that there was a time when women were banned from wearing skirts (were forbidden skirts). 10. More and more people now demand a ban of pornography.

11. It took four people to lift the stone under which they found the box. 12. When I was desperately in need of help, he did not lift a finger. 13. The weather forecast says that the fog will lift (disperse) tomorrow in the afternoon. 14. She was caught lifting a bottle of perfume.

15. The whole paragraph was bodily lifted from a book published in the United States. 16. The demonstrators demanded that the economic sanctions be lifted immediately.

17. They were like people in the same boat which was leaking. They had to stick together and try to bail out the water. 18. When I was on the verge of bankruptcy, it was he who bailed me out. 19. It is not a good idea for the government to bail out financially insolvent companies.

P448 You can relax in five simple steps. First, sit in a comfortable chair. Don’t think of anything, esp. not of events that have angered you during the day. Second, stand and stretch your arms as high as you can, and then slowly lower them. Stretch and lower ten times. Next relax your muscles by clenching and unclenching your fists 20 times.

Step four is to sit quietly and breathe lightly in and out. Concentrate only on your breathing. Finally, close your eyes and imagine something relaxing, such as passing clouds or a flowing river, for several minutes. By the time you finish the fifth step, you should feel much calmer than you felt at the start of this exercise.

Smoking is definitely a bad habit. First and foremost, it is harmful to health both for the smoker and the nonsmoker. As is known to all, smoking causes lung cancer and other lung diseases.

A second great harm of cigarette- smoking is that it often affects the smokers’ will. Many people who smoke regularly do actually want to stop and have tried, only to find the habit hard to kick. The result is that they gradually lose confidence in themselves.

A third harm smoking can do is to relationships. In more and more countries, because of the health risks, most office buildings do not allow smoking at all. Most plane journeys are made non-smoking. The governments of some countries demand that cigarette companies print a health warning on cigarette packets.